Container apparatus and method

Abstract

A container having a base, with a bottom surface, a first support tube fixed to the base at a first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base; a second support tube fixed to the base at the first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and spaced apart from, substantially parallel to the first support tube; a third support tube fixed to the base, at a second level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface, and below and substantially parallel to the first level; and a fourth support tube fixed to the base, at the second level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and spaced apart from, and substantially parallel to the third support tube. The first and second support tubes may be substantially perpendicular to the third and fourth support tubes.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a container having a base, a lid, and walls, wherein the base has a bottom surface, wherein there is an inner chamber enclosed by the base, the lid and the walls; 
 a first support tube defining a tube axis fixed to the base of the container, such that the first support tube is fixed at a first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base; 
 a second support tube defining a tube axis fixed to the base of the container, such that the second support tube is fixed at the first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and the second support tube axis is from and spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first support tube axis; 
 a third support tube defining a tube axis fixed to the base of the container, such that the third support tube is fixed at a second level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and below and substantially parallel to the first level; 
 a fourth support tube defining a tube axis fixed to the base of the container, such that the fourth support tube is fixed at the second level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and the fourth support tube is spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the third support tube axis; 
 wherein the axes of the first and second support tubes are substantially perpendicular to the axes of the third and fourth support tubes; 
 wherein the third and four support tubes are configured to receive, at the same time, first and second tines, respectively, of a forklift; 
 wherein the first and second support tubes are configured to receive first and second horizontal members of first and second supports. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising
 a fifth support tube defining a tube axis fixed to the base of the container, such that the fifth support tube is fixed at the first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base; 
 a sixth support tube defining a tube axis fixed to the base of the container, such that the sixth support tube is fixed at the first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and the sixth support tube is spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the fifth support tube axis; 
 wherein the axes of the fifth and sixth support tubes are substantially perpendicular to the axes of the third and fourth support tubes; 
 wherein the first and fifth support tubes are substantially aligned; 
 wherein the second and sixth support tubes are substantially aligned; 
 wherein the fifth and sixth support tubes are configured to receive third and fourth horizontal members of third and fourth supports. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising
 a means for connecting a pipe to the base of the container so that water within the inner chamber of the container can flow out of the container; and 
 wherein the means for connecting a pipe does not overlap any of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth support tubes. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein
 the first and second support tubes are configured with respect to each other, and sized to allow a first support to be inserted into the first support tube, while a second support is simultaneously inserted into the second support tube in order to cause the container, and first, second, third, and fourth support tubes, to be raised a distance, above a ground surface, parallel to the bottom surface of the base of the container. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising
 a pipe connected to the means for connecting a pipe, in a manner such that at least a portion of the pipe is located between the first and the second support tubes. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein
 the first, second, third, and fourth support tubes are configured with respect to each other, and sized to allow a first support to be inserted into the first support tube, while a second support is simultaneously inserted into the second support tube, while a third support is simultaneously inserted into the fifth support tube, and while a sixth support is simultaneously inserted into the sixth support tube, in order to cause the container, and first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth support tubes, to be raised a distance, above a ground surface, parallel to the bottom surface of the base of the container. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein
 the third and fourth support tubes are configured with respect to each other, and sized, to allow a first fork lift tine of a fork lift to be inserted into the third support tube, while a second fork lift tine of the fork lift is simultaneously inserted into the fourth support tube, and while the first, second, third, and fourth supports are inserted into the first, second, fifth, and sixth support tubes. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the bottom surface of the base has an opening through which liquid can pass. 
 
     
     
       9. A method of using an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is comprised of a container having a base, a lid, and walls, wherein the base has a bottom surface, wherein there is an inner chamber enclosed by the base, the lid and the walls;
 a first support tube defining a tube axis fixed to the base of the container, such that the first support tube is fixed at a first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base; 
 a second support tube defining a tube axis fixed to the base of the container, such that the second support tube is fixed at the first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and the second support tube axis is from and spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first support tube axis; 
 a third support tube defining a tube axis fixed to the base of the container, such that the third support tube is fixed at a second level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and below and substantially parallel to the first level; 
 a fourth support tube defining a tube axis fixed to the base of the container, such that the fourth support tube is fixed at the second level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and the fourth support tube is spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the third support tube axis; 
 wherein the axes of the first and second support tubes are substantially perpendicular to the axes of the third and fourth support tubes; 
 wherein the third and four support tubes are configured to receive, at the same time, first and second tines, respectively, of a forklift; 
 wherein the first and second support tubes are configured to receive first and second horizontal members of first and second supports, 
 the method comprising the steps of: 
 inserting a first support into the first support tube, while a second support is simultaneously inserted into the second support tube the third, while a first forklift tine of a forklift is inserted into the third support tube, and while a second forklift tine of the forklift is inserted into the fourth support tube. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 
 Inserting a third support into a fifth support tube defining an axis and a fourth support into a sixth support tube defining an axis, while the first and second supports are inserted into the first and second support tubes; 
 wherein the fifth support tube is fixed to the base of the container, such that the fifth support tube is fixed at the first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base; 
 wherein the sixth support tube is fixed to the base of the container, such that the sixth support tube is fixed at the first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and spaced apart from, substantially parallel to the fifth support tube; 
 wherein the axes of the fifth and sixth support tubes are substantially perpendicular to the axes of the third and fourth support tubes; 
 wherein the first and fifth support tubes are substantially aligned; and 
 wherein the second and sixth support tubes are substantially aligned. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the apparatus includes
 a means for connecting a pipe to the base of the container so that water within the inner chamber of the container can flow out of the container; and 
 wherein the means for connecting a pipe does not overlap any of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth support tubes. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein the apparatus includes
 a pipe connected to the means for connecting a pipe, in a manner such that at least a portion of the pipe is located between the first and the second support tubes. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9  wherein
 the bottom surface of the base has an opening through which liquid can pass. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9  further comprising
 lifting the container above a ground surface, by moving the first forklift tine and the second forklift tine upwards, while the first forklift tine is inserted in the third support tube and the second forklift tine is inserted in the fourth support tube.